The Lands Between teem with enemies tough to beat down, and the Ghostflame Dragon in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is no exception in Elden Ring.
This wraith of a dragon breathes a shiver-inducing flame and it can pack quite a punch whilst fighting the more veteran Tarnished warriors. But fear not! With the strategy as well as the might and strength the fiery Ghostflame Dragon can be defeated.
In this How To Easily Beat the Ghostflame Dragon in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Guide, I will explain. We’ll delve into its attack patterns, provide some tips on how to defeat it and maybe even suggest the gear you should be using to defeat it. So, buck up, Tarnished and get ready to snub out the terror of the Ghostflame Dragon!
Interpreting the Ghostflame Dragon
The Ghostflame Dragon is a terrifying menace that glows like a ghastly ghost. The adventurers who are not prepared can easily get caught in its fiery breath and quick movement. That being said, by identifying its attack follows, you’ll be able to take advantage of openings and pump out the damage.
- Firestorm Fury – The dragon sweeps a wide path with a rain of ghostly flames. Sidestep or run out on Torrent to dodge the inferno.
- Thrashtastic Claws – The dragon swipes with its huge claws, dealing high physical damage. Roll as soon as it jumps on the counter to avoid getting hit.
- Stomp of Fury – The dragon performs a stomp that has a shockwave which is fiery. Leap over it to avoid damage.
- Aerial Assault – The dragon launches into the air and spews fire from above. Try to hide behind the pillars or natural objects on the field.
- Embering Rage (Second Phase) – When it reaches a below health threshold, it goes to the second phase. Its body lights on fire, and it begins to summon skeletal warriors to fight for it. Concentrate on the skeletons first so you don’t get swarmed.
How to fight the Ghostflame Dragon
The Ghostflame Dragon can be defeated with a good stratagy. Here are some key principles:
- Use Torrent’s Mobility: The Ghostflame Dragon has superb mobility of his own. Use your ghostly stallion to get right in to your enemies face and dart around the dragon at top speed while in combat. But don’t expect to pull it off ‘Hit and Run’ style because the dragon will close distances really fast.
- Head Hunting: Aim for the skull of the Ghostflame Dragon to deliver critical hits. After landing two or three good hits, it will be dazed and you’ll be able to approach it and shoot a bright orange crit spot on its right side. Take advantage of this opening to unleash a heavy attack with a critical animation and apply some big damage.
- Play It Safe: The Ghostflame Dragon hits hard. Very hard. If your defense isn’t up to par, one of its attacks could easily kill you in one shot. Don’t forget to keep dodging when the dragon starts to breathe fire. Dodge toward its body, or Torrent to the side. But it is extremely dangerous to run straight away.
- Watch Out For Its Undead Summons: When the Ghostflame Dragon lifts his head and its stomach glows white, you should prepare for one of his area-of-effect attacks, which summon undead enemies. Kill these extra enemies quickly, as they can push you over the edge while you are concentrating on the dragon.
- Make the Most of Grounded Opportunities: The dragon’s dive attack should tell you when you can go on the offensive. If you manage to avoid this attack, the dragon will be grounded for a few seconds and susceptible to a vicious beatdown. Use your best, highest-damage moves during this window, targeting the head if possible.
- The value of patience: This fight is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t be greedy and try to go for too many hits at a time. Concentrate on being safe, chipping away, and creating opportunities.
Easy Mode: Long-Range Sorcery Cheese
For the more laid-back-dudettes, there is indeed a dedicated “sorcery” build to cheese this into oblivion. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Loretta’s Mastery (Loretta’s Greatbow): This long-range sorcery gets heat-seeking on your target so you can do some damage from a safe distance. You can just pelt the dragon and it won’t know what hit it, leaving you away from it’s deadly attacks.
- High Focus (FP): These are both thirsty spells. Have several FP at reserve and have FP recovery items such as mana pots to constantly bombard.
- Loretta’s Mastery vs. Greatbow: Loretta’s Mastery is much stronger, but you have to get to Miquella’s Haligtree. Loretta’s Greatbow can be acquired earlier in the main game, but is weaker.
Gearing Up for Glory
The equipment can make a significant difference in this battle. Here are some gear suggestions:
- Level Recommendation: Ghostflame Dragon is a tough boss, it is recommended for players to be at least level 150 to fight this creature. This makes sure you have enough health and firepower to last the storm.
- Equip: Go for weapons with high physical damage. For close-range fights go with fast-swinging greatswords, hammers or katanas. If using range pick fire arrows or strong spells even.
- Armor: Look for armor sets with high fire resistance like Black Knife Set or Radahn’s Lion Set.
- Spirit Ashes: You can drop a Spirit Ash if the fight starts going sour on you to take some of the aggro off of you. Mimic Tear or Lhutel the Headless are good choices but really any tanky Spirit ash will do.
- Talisman: Wearing talismans can also increase and provide fire decense in attack and defense. Don’t forget the Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, The Shard of Alexander or Millicent’s Prosthesis.
Consumables & Crafting - The Tool Kit of a Tarnished
Don’t forget to use the power of consumables! Here’s some gear to give you an edge:
- Health Flasks: Duh. Bring a lot of Crimson Flasks to self-heal during fight.
- Buffing Items: Take advantage of consumable items like the Flameproofed Blazestone or Boiled Crab to temporarily increase your fire resistance.
- Shurikens: They can interrupt the dragon’s attacks and create opportunities for you to hit critical hits on the dragon.
- Crafting Materials: Stock up on Cracked Tears and Starlight. These will be useful to make very potent healing pots and buffs while actually fighting.
Burned Sky Is On A Clash Of Kingdoms Keyboard: Claim Of Victory
One Ghostflame Dragon Boss Loot Kill the Ghostflame Dragon and obtain Rich rewards.
- Runes – Lots of Runes for leveling up your character.
- Legendary Weapon – A legendary weapon of tremendous power (specific weapon depends on player’s selected path in the Shadow of the Erdtree storyline).
- Dragon Heart – A unique material required in order to create the most powerful of armaments and incantations.
- Progress Unlock - Defeating the Ghostflame Dragon unlocks an important story detail in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
Facing the Flames Head On
If you adhere to these tips and bring a tactical approach to the fight, you should have little trouble taking down the Ghostflame Dragon. Patience, determination, and a healthy respect for your opponents’ firepower is the only way to succeed in this fiery challenge. So raise your weapon Tarnished, steel yourself and get ready to take your place of the slayer of the Ghostflame Dragon!
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